Calor’s continual determination to improve safety while maximising efficiency has prompted it to add Mercedes-Benz trucks to its established fleet – the high-profile gas supplier’s first 20 vehicles to wear three-pointed stars are now operating from its depot in Immingham.

Dealer Ciceley Commercials will shortly deliver another 10 trucks, all Antos 26-tonners with bodies by Lakeland Tankers, of Stourbridge. These will be based across nine of Calor’s national network of sites.

Safety is at the core of the Calor business and it was essential that any new vehicles in the fleet reflected this operational focus. The new Calor units, like all roadgoing Actros tractors, are equipped with Mercedes-Benz Safety Packs. In addition to the Active Brake Assist 4 emergency braking system – which incorporates pedestrian recognition technology – these include Proximity Control Assist and a driver’s airbag.

Calor’s National Vehicle Engineering Manager Alan Harrison and senior colleagues were treated to a demonstration at Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ Wentworth Park Customer Experience Centre, near Barnsley, of Active Brake Assist 4’s ability to prevent or minimise the effects of accidents.

“Seeing the system in action, and the speed with which it can bring a truck safely to a halt with no driver input, was a real eye-opener,” said Mr Harrison. “Safety was a crucial consideration when we sat down to evaluate the bids we’d received, and its leadership in the field was instrumental in enabling Mercedes-Benz to win our business.”

Active Brake Assist 4 employs multi-mode radar to monitor moving and stationary objects in front of the vehicle, and sounds an audible warning when it senses potential for a collision. If the driver takes no action it will apply staged braking followed by full braking power to prevent a crash, or dramatically reduce the effects of an impact. The system is looking for moving pedestrians from a standstill, even one stepping into the truck’s path from behind a parked car.

Mr Harrison said that despite being more highly specified in terms of safety equipment, the Actros were also lighter than the Euro V tractor units they were replacing.

Calor’s new tractors are 2446 models with small-wheeled (17.5in) mid-lift axles which offer a weight saving of approximately 300kg compared to the standard version with 22.5in wheels, while also freeing up valuable space on the chassis.

By also specifying 2.3m-wide ClassicSpace cabs, the narrower of the two widths available, and alloy wheels, Calor was able to hit one of its prime targets – that the new trucks should be no heavier than their five-year-old predecessors.

“In fact,” said Mr Harrison, “the Actros are 300 kg lighter! Given that the trend in recent years has been for trucks to become gradually heavier as they are loaded with more technology, this is a very impressive figure, and one that will translate into a welcome increase in payload potential.”

The Actros are now working with tank trailers, hauling bulk loads of liquid petroleum gas to filling plants around the UK. The Antos 2535s, meanwhile, will join a fleet of close to 200 rigid tankers which deliver LPG – including an increasing proportion of BioLPG, a low-carbon renewable alternative – to domestic and commercial customers.

Calor will continue to enhance its delivery fleet to improve safety and efficiency, and employ the latest technology, such as BioLPS, LNG and electrification where practical and where regulations allow, to drive down emissions.

Calor took advantage of Mercedes-Benz Finance funding, and five-year ExtendPlus warranties. “Price will always be a major factor, of course,” continued Mr Harrison. “Whether the projected long-term running costs can be achieved remains to be seen.”

Calor’s Immingham Site Manager Andy Allan said the Actros had been well received by their drivers. “They’re enthusiastic about the truck’s pulling power and its very comfortable cab, while the fuel-saving Predictive Powertrain Control is exceptionally user-friendly,” he said.

Recalling the product presentation day at Wentworth Park, Alan Harrison added: “We were very well hosted by Mercedes-Benz Trucks Key Account Manager Brent Manning and Ciceley Commercials Fleet Sales Executive Guy Beech, who put together a package that ticked all our boxes.

“They have gone far above and beyond simply supplying the vehicles. The day was extremely useful, and our driver-trainers have since attended further sessions at Wentworth Park, to familiarise themselves fully with all of the safety and fuel-saving technology fitted to our new trucks. We’re fully confident that we’ve made the right decision and are now looking forward to building an ongoing relationship with Mercedes-Benz Trucks.”

AO.com has taken delivery of 80 new rigid trucks featuring Tiger Trailers bodywork, replacing older vehicles operating in the AO.com delivery fleet. The deal represents the first rigid bodies Tiger has built for the company, having supplied double deck trailers for its trunking fleet since 2014.

Mounted to 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego chassis, supplied to AO.com by Ciceley Commercials, the Tiger Trailers design team were tasked with the challenge of making the fleet more efficient and cost effective, namely by improving the truck’s aerodynamics and by making them as light as possible, without compromising on strength.

Jon Makin, National Fleet Manager for AO.com, says: “We have been working with Tiger since 2014 and knew their design team would be up to the task. They look at things differently to other manufacturers, placing the efficiency of the design at the forefront of the process.”

Tiger’s intelligent design and choice of materials was key to it meeting AO.com’s strict weight requirements. Aluminium was used in the bearers, chassis runners and in the panels of the rear roller-door – replacing the more standard approach of using wood – while ultra-thin Ecofont side panels kept the weight down without any loss of rigidity or strength.

Significant weight saving was also achieved through the inclusion of a tuck-under tail-lift, a change from the heavier column lifts used previously. Without having to lower the tail-lift to access the load space, the tuck-under design also helps to increase the speed and efficiency of the loading and unloading process.

To improve the aerodynamic performance, the new rigid bodies are the first to feature Tiger’s new aerofoil design – specially moulded to create smoother airflow around the vehicle, improving fuel efficiency to offer a significant reduction in running costs.

“These trucks operate everywhere in the UK, from country roads to city streets,” continues Makin. “The delivery routes we run require the vehicles to be flexible enough to access any destination. Each truck will clock up between 80,000 and 100,000km a year so the new aerodynamics Tiger has incorporated will make a significant difference to their fuel efficiency.”

Each vehicle is on the road seven days a week and is expected to make between 30 and 40 drops per day, primarily delivering large volume white goods. This multi-drop schedule requires a dependable load security system, so Tiger included ‘slam locks’ on the rear roller-door that are quickly and easily secured with a key – removing the need for any additional locking system.

The new vehicles have been specified on three and five-year leases from Ciceley Commercials, giving AO.com more flexibility when it comes to refreshing the fleet down the line.

Mike Lewis, Dealer Principal at Ciceley Commercials, says: “We value the longstanding relationship we have with AO.com, and in turn totally respect the relationship they have built with Tiger Trailers. It was clear from the outset that each company shares a similar approach, with the decision makers in the business involved at every step – that’s something that really struck a chord with us.”

Started more than 17 years ago, AO.com is a specialist two-man delivery company that operates a mixed commercial vehicle fleet; it delivers goods nationwide through its van, rigid truck and double deck trailer fleet, with the latter two vehicle types now being built by Tiger Trailers.

]]>66793Relative values ensure W&M Thompson’s loyalty to Mercedes-Benzhttps://mhwmagazine.co.uk/relative-values-ensure-wm-thompsons-loyalty-to-mercedes-benz.html
Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:41:06 +0000http://mhwmagazine.co.uk/?p=65590Paul Thompson adhered to a family tradition dating back more than 40 years when he purchased his latest Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit from Ciceley Commercials. Paul is a Partner in W&M Thompson, the Lancashire-based transport firm founded by his parents William and Margaret, who bought their first truck from the same Dealer in 1974. That …

Paul Thompson adhered to a family tradition dating back more than 40 years when he purchased his latest Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit from Ciceley Commercials.

Paul is a Partner in W&M Thompson, the Lancashire-based transport firm founded by his parents William and Margaret, who bought their first truck from the same Dealer in 1974.

That vehicle, a 1418 tractor unit from the LP range, was one of the first sold by Ciceley Commercials, which was awarded its Mercedes-Benz franchise shortly after the manufacturer opened for business in the UK. W&M Thompson has remained a loyal customer to this day.

The latest arrival is an Actros 2551 with range-topping GigaSpace cab, 375 kW (510 hp) 12.8-litre engine, and personalised registration plate. It has joined a fleet of 20 trucks, the majority of which wear the famous three-pointed star.

“We’ve stayed with Mercedes-Benz and Ciceley Commercials for two simple reasons,” said Paul. “The product has always been excellent and the service we receive from the Dealer is first class.

“As a total package, the Actros has it all,” he continued. “It’s competitively priced and offers great value for money thanks to its high level of standard specification, to which we add chrome grilles and lightbars to ensure that our vehicles really stand out.

“The Actros is also superbly reliable. We’ve been running vehicles from the latest generation for four years now and I don’t think I’ve spent anything on them.

“Many of our vehicles are travelling into London and making multiple drops on a daily basis. The Mercedes-Benz truck’s fuel economy is great, while our drivers rate it very highly too.”

W&M Thompson runs its own workshop but, like all new Actros tractors, its latest truck came with two years’ free repair and maintenance cover, under which inspections and services are being carried out at Ciceley Commercials’ Blackburn branch.

“The Dealer has always looked after us really well,” said Paul. “The attitude of its team impresses me because they could easily get complacent about such a long-standing customer. That never happens though – they can’t do enough for us.

“Sales executive Anthony Cunningham handles our orders very professionally and we have a great relationship with Service Manager Steve Hall, who has been looking after us pretty much since my dad started the business.”

William Thompson has since passed away but Margaret, now aged 83, still takes an active interest. “She keeps me on my toes,” laughed Paul, whose sister Sandra is also a Partner at the company headquarters in Rufford, near Ormskirk.

W&M Thompson’s 20 tractors and 40 trailers undertake a range of transport duties for customers in the food industry, moving palletised loads, bulk flour and grain, between production plants, distribution centres and wholesalers across the UK.

]]>65590Mercedes-Benz Actros Fuel Challenger wins its place in HPH fleethttps://mhwmagazine.co.uk/mercedes-benz-actros-fuel-challenger-wins-its-place-in-hph-fleet.html
Tue, 14 Feb 2017 13:41:11 +0000http://mhwmagazine.co.uk/?p=62896HPH is running its first Mercedes-Benz trucks, after an Actros Fuel Challenger trounced the operator’s fleet favourite and a vehicle by a third manufacturer. The Preston-based haulier has now added four Actros 2545 tractor units to its 60-strong fleet. They arrived via the Blackburn branch of Dealer Ciceley Commercials and have been hailed as “absolutely …

HPH is running its first Mercedes-Benz trucks, after an Actros Fuel Challenger trounced the operator’s fleet favourite and a vehicle by a third manufacturer.

The Preston-based haulier has now added four Actros 2545 tractor units to its 60-strong fleet. They arrived via the Blackburn branch of Dealer Ciceley Commercials and have been hailed as “absolutely fantastic” by its drivers.

HPH picked a real-life, day and night application as the battleground for its month-long, three-way fuel fight. Its new Actros have now been assigned to the same operation, which entails hauling tissue products between Cumbria, Lancashire and North Wales.

Following HPH’s typical truck use pattern they will stay on this high-mileage job for a year, during which each will rack up some 250,000 km, then switch to less intensive, single-shift general work.

The Actros are the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement which includes tyres, from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

General Manager Steve Sugden said: “We’d been running trucks by the same manufacturer for some years but felt the time was now right to take a look at what the competition can offer. Having also seen and heard a number of reports about other operators making significant fuel savings with the Actros, we were particularly keen to see what the Mercedes-Benz truck could do.

“While I prefer not to quote specific figures, it’s fair to say that Ciceley’s Actros demonstrator performed exceptionally well, its mpg returns putting it ahead of the competition by a clear margin.”

He continued: “Other factors were important too, of course. The price had to be right and we wanted our drivers to be happy, while we also demand very high standards of support. Ciceley’s after sales performance will be measured carefully over the coming months and years, but we’ve been given all the right assurances and are confident that we’ve made the correct choice.”

HPH began trading as H Parkinson Haulage more than 60 years ago, and has served clients in the paper industry almost since its inception. Today, it offers transport and warehousing services to a range of sectors and is proud of its commitment to minimise impact on the environment by constant efforts to reduce consumption of fuel, water, energy and materials. The company also runs a fully equipped truck workshop with two dedicated DVSA Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lanes.

The Mercedes-Benz Fuel Challenger programme invites operators to put an Actros to work on their fleet, then compare its diesel consumption with the best of their own vehicles. The truck bearing the three-pointed star has won 90% of the 310 Fuel Challenges completed since the first took place in 2014, achieving average fuel savings of 7.5%.

]]>62896LWC gets the lowdown with Mercedes-Benz Antoshttps://mhwmagazine.co.uk/lwc-gets-lowdown-mercedes-benz-antos.html
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 08:43:33 +0000http://mhwmagazine.co.uk/?p=61206Rapidly expanding LWC Drinks has raised the comfort bar for its drivers by commissioning the first vehicles from an order for seven ground-hugging Mercedes-Benz Antos rigids. The Manchester-based beverage wholesaler has already taken delivery of three 26-tonners with lowered frames, low-profile tyres and all-round air suspension. The result is a reduced deck height which – …

Rapidly expanding LWC Drinks has raised the comfort bar for its drivers by commissioning the first vehicles from an order for seven ground-hugging Mercedes-Benz Antos rigids.

The Manchester-based beverage wholesaler has already taken delivery of three 26-tonners with lowered frames, low-profile tyres and all-round air suspension. The result is a reduced deck height which – with the suspension lowered – can be dropped up to 200 mm lower than a standard model. This makes life as easy as possible for drivers who deliver to pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants across the UK.

Supplied by Dealer Ciceley Commercials, the new trucks are all Antos 2530 Lnr models with ClassicSpace cabs finished in gleaming black. Their buckleless curtain ‘smoothsider’ bodies, meanwhile, are by PPS Commercials, of Bury, and printed with images of LWC products. Each is also fitted with a 1,500 kg capacity DEL column tail lift.

A fourth, identical vehicle, along with three similarly equipped Antos 1824 Lnr 18-tonners, are due to enter service before the end of November.

The LWC fleet now extends to more than 100 trucks, ranging from 7.5 to 26 tonnes gvw.

National Operations Manager Stuart Tinnion explained: “Traditionally we’ve tended to run vehicles at the lower end of the weight range, but that approach is changing now.

“We’re making more deliveries and handling larger consignments than ever before, so we need trucks that offer bigger payloads. At the same time, though, we need to retain a low working height to make life easier – and safer – for our drivers.

“These Antos are ideally suited to the drinks industry and perfect for our operation. As well as their low height they have steering rear axles which means they’re highly manoeuvrable, a big advantage given the tight access at many of the city centre locations on our delivery lists.

“They also look really smart, so double as a great mobile advertisement for our business and high operating standards.”

Established in 1979, LWC was recently described by The Sunday Times as “the fastest-growing privately-owned drinks company in Britain”. It boasts a roster of 6,000 customers and offers more than 7,000 product lines.

In addition to its head office, LWC operates 13 depots nationally, from Cornwall in the South-West to Teesside in the North-East, all of which provide a seven-days-a-week service – orders placed before noon are delivered on the same day. The company also owns and runs a string of 50 pubs.

Mr Tinnion continued: “Our new Antos have replaced three vehicles by another manufacturer. We shopped around and asked several suppliers for their proposals before placing our order. The response from Ciceley’s Fleet Sales Manager Guy Beech was quick and comprehensive, and the price was highly competitive.

“I know from long experience both with LWC and in previous roles within this industry, that the Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star is an assurance of quality. Ciceley Commercials also supplied us with five Actros tractor units which we run from our hub depot in Manchester, and which have proved superbly reliable.

“The Dealer’s back-up is first-class too. We’re confident our new trucks will play a significant part in our plans for further expansion.”

Chemicals supplier Baerlocher UK has hit upon the formula for ultimate road safety, in the shape of its new, range-topping Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit.

The Bury-based operator took the opportunity when ordering the 6×2 Actros 2551 from Dealer Ciceley Commercials, to specify an optional Safety Pack. This comprises the remarkable Active Brake Assist 3 system, as well as Proximity Control Assist, a driver’s airbag, and a large, easy-to-read 12.7 cm instrument cluster. Customers for the Safety Pack can make a substantial saving on the price of these items if purchased separately.

The ABA3 system already out-performs the requirements of General Safety Regulations that do not come into force until November 2018, which means Baerlocher UK is a full two years ahead of the game.

Using a combination of radar and cameras, it monitors moving and stationary objects in front and sounds an audible warning when it senses potential for a collision. If the driver takes no action, the system will apply staged braking – and eventually full braking power – to prevent a crash, or dramatically reduce the effects of an impact.

Proximity Control Assist, meanwhile, works in conjunction with the cruise control, intervening automatically to restrict the truck’s speed and maintain a pre-set distance from the vehicle in front.

Baerlocher UK has further underscored its commitment to safety by specifying its new truck with a high-performance engine brake, LED daytime running lights and Bi-xenon headlights with cornering function. The truck was acquired via the company’s transport partner Hanson Logistics, which also supplies trailers as well as dedicated drivers, all of whom wear smart Baerlocher uniforms.

German-owned Baerlocher, which runs operations in 14 other countries, specialises in the production and supply of stabiliser additives to customers, including manufacturers of PVC window profiles.

The Actros hauls bagged and palletised loads in a curtainside trailer, and granulated product in a bulk powder tanker. Its GigaSpace cab is the biggest in the Mercedes-Benz range while its straight-six is the most powerful variant of the 12.8-litre OM 471 LA family – this state-of-the-art engine generates 375 kW (510 hp) and 2,500 Nm of torque, and drives through a smooth and efficient PowerShift 3 automated transmission.

Baerlocher UK’s new tractor unit is also equipped with optional technology designed to make it as fuel-efficient and comfortable for the company’s contracted drivers as possible.

Predictive Powertrain Control, for example, is an innovative cruise control that employs digital 3D mapping and GPS data to scan the road ahead. Armed with this information it manages gear changes and vehicle speed, making full use of the truck’s EcoRoll function to restrict diesel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The list of in-cab additions, meanwhile, is exhaustive: Baerlocher’s drivers benefit from luxurious Home Line interior design with leather Comfort seats and a wood and leather steering wheel, a wide Comfort bed with levelling control, ambient lighting, fitted fridge, microwave oven and TV. There is also a four-way camera system, which displays a view down the side of the vehicle whenever it is turning, while also recording footage that could be used to investigate any accidents.

Other features include a PTO and transmission oil cooler, along with roof-mounted airhorns, Alcoa Dura-Bright alloy wheels and a Jost fifth wheel with coupling sensor.

“This truck has a very high specification but we consider the money to be extremely well spent,” said Operations Director Graeme Knox.

“Our primary business is the production of ingredients for the manufacture of plastics, not transport. Nevertheless, our trucks and their drivers are the visible face of our company to many customers and as such they must project an image which reflects our own high quality standards.

“Furthermore,” he continued, “we’re acutely conscious of our Duty of Care to our own staff, employees at the customer sites we visit, and other road users. The contribution that systems like ABA3 can make in preventing accidents means we have no hesitation in investing in this advanced safety technology.”

Baerlocher UK also took delivery recently of an 8×4 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 with hook-load system, which it uses to transport demountable silos to customer premises. The company’s third vehicle is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, which is assigned to small-scale deliveries.

The new Mercedes-Benz Actros is the subject of a CharterWay contract hire package from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, under which all inspections and maintenance are being carried out at Ciceley Commercials’ Blackburn branch.

“The Dealer’s workshop is open through the night, which means we can drop the truck off at the end of the day and collect it next morning ready to start work again, thus keeping downtime to an absolute minimum,” added Mr Knox.

“This level of back-up, along with the attention to detail that sales executive Matt Riley displayed in helping us to get the specification of our truck just right, is very impressive.”